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The Wire

Wella Professionals U.S. Trend Vision Award '07 Competition

Hair artistry reached a new plateau when 11 teams of finalists from across the country competed for the chance to take home gold, silver or bronze at the Wella Professionals U.S. Trend Vision Award '07 competition. The event was staged at The Studio, LA, in Woodland Hills, CA.

The program kicked off with a lively competition that got the creative juices flowing. The styling teams worked at a quick clip, recreating one of four key Wella-defined trends—Pop Couture, Rustic Deluxe, Nordic Serenity and Sensual Intrigue—on their models, then presenting their handiwork to a distinguished panel of industry experts, who carefully evaluated, examined and scored their efforts.

P&G Professional Care NA's John Moroney, senior vice president/creative director, and Alexander Herzberg, senior vice president, announced the winners at a dinner held for contestants, judges, members of the media, beauty pros and management from Wella Professionals. The gold medal went to Adam Livermore of Spalon Montage, Edina, MN, for his interpretation of the Pop Couture trend. Livermore now heads to the International Trend Vision Award '07 in Barcelona as the U.S. representative, where he will compete against 53 other teams from around the world. "I'm absolutely stunned and amazed at the energy and incredible talent of everyone in the competition," he said. "This experience has been like a dream. I can't wait to travel to Barcelona to see the people, culture and artists from around the world."

Also recognized were Nicole Obert of Arrojo Studio, New York City, who took home silver for her interpretation of the Pop Couture trend, and Millie Baggett of Bella Capelli Salon, Roswell, GA, who received a bronze award for putting her own spin on the Sensual Intrigue trend.

"We were thrilled and inspired by the entries in this year's competition," Moroney said. "Of the 11 finalists, half had entered in the past and wanted to participate again, and half were completely new to the exciting world of this competition. We're delighted to offer a forum for hairstylists to express their artistry and creativity." For more information on International Trend Vision Award '07, visit wellausa.com. —K.D.

Matrix Magic Repeating

Join 6,000 of your fellow hairstylists at Matrix Destination 2008, June 1–3, at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It's a don't-miss opportunity to learn from some of Matrix's most accomplished and innovative instructors in beauty and business. You'll also experience the launch of Matrix's educational methodology, called C.R.A.F.T. Matrix worked with industry experts to create this interactive, breakthrough philosophy, which establishes a common voice for all Matrix educational classes and training. "No matter where you are attending a class, all of Matrix's instructors will be teaching with one voice," says Karrie Fonte, senior director, U.S. Education. "With C.R.A.F.T., you will always know what to expect from a Matrix class."

Matrix Destination 2008 promises to leave you inspired like never before.

Not to be missed during the three-day event is the opening-night Cirque du Soiree, a multi-sensorial extravaganza with a backdrop of acrobatics and aerial ballet, and the Matrix Red Hot Carnival, a party to help you celebrate and unwind after a day of classes. You can mingle with Matrix Artistic designers and your peers at this see-and-be-seen bash.

Get your tickets for Matrix Destination 2008 now, before prices go up at the end of the year. Register online at matrix.com/destination. —C.W.

Vavoom Welcomes Stylists to Broadway

In August, Matrix invited 500 stylists from across the Tri-State Area to enjoy a special performance of the Vavoom-sponsored Broadway show Legally Blonde—The Musical. The stylists, dressed in their hottest pink clothes, were greeted at the theater by Elle Woods look-alikes, and they got to take pictures with the character Paulette (played by the actress Orfeh), a hairstylist in the show who owns The Hair Affair, the beauty salon where a lot of the action takes place. Vavoom products can be seen prominently on stage, along with Matrix Men, Sleek.look and Amplify products. After the show, the guests, including 100 students from the Empire Beauty School, were treated to a private Q&A session with the entire cast. —N.P.

The stylists' Q&A with the cast

Joico's Diversion Blitz

Joico recently held a nationwide Diversion Blitz to gather evidence of label tampering in order to build a case against retailers that sell defaced Joico products. The blitz focused on two major retailers, CVS and Rite Aid, where the highest level of diverted products have been identified. Other retailers were also affected. —N.P.

Sara Jones, senior vice president and general manager for Joico, stands behind the anti-diversion efforts.

PBA is a Winner

In a victory for the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) and the salon industry, the Small Business Administration (SBA) recently issued a ruling that preserves the small business designation for many salons and spas nationwide. In 2004, the SBA considered changing how the federal government defined a small business from a receipts-based size standard to a standard based on the number of employees. If this passed, it would have placed a huge burden on many salons and spas. Due to the combined efforts of PBA and its members, the SBA decided not to change how the federal government defines a small business. —N.P.

Thanks in part to the PBA, Congress will not change how the federal government defines a small business.

Supernatural Salon Cruise Sets Sail

Supernatural Salon Cruises plans to sail throughout the Southern Caribbean from January 5–12, 2008, for a week of education, awards, honors and fun. Sponsored by the Share the Wealth Company of Chicago, the event is open to all salon and spa industry professionals. During the event, salon professionals will have the opportunity to share their expertise and experiences with other professionals and visit historic sites, shop, sunbathe, swim and much more. Participants will take part in seminars by top educators, including John Amico, Sr., John Amico, Jr., Larry Oskin and Rudy D'Amico. For more information, visit sharethewealthsalons.com. —N.P.